Automatic latching gate assembly

ABSTRACT

A gate assembly for enclosures and the like which rigidly holds the gate in an open or closed position without the use of a cane bolt. Which uses a thrust washer and hinge bolt to control gate swing momentum. Which allows easy replacement of damaged panels with bolting assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to gates for access to enclosed areas and more particularly to a gate latching assembly for gates and the like.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art

[0004] It will become evident as the description proceeds that the improved gate assembly of this invention may be used for a variety of purposes. The gate assembly is primarily intended for use as a trash enclosure assembly, however, and will be described in the context of this use.

[0005] Broadly defined, a gate is an access opening through which persons and/or equipment and/or vehicles may pass to and from an enclosed area. This area is opened and closed by what is commonly referred to as a gate. Perhaps the most familiar type of gate is a rectangular frame attached to a gate post by two or more hinges and held in place by a cane bolt which drops into a hole in the ground. The gate assembly of this invention is intended primarily for use as a gate for opening and closing a trash enclosure in service station locations, restaurant locations, parking lots and the like.

[0006] Canes bolts of this kind can be easily bent and their corresponding hole can be filled with debris, which renders them inoperable. Once this occurs, the gates are free to be swung open or closed by wind forces, which can cause severe damage or even destruction of the gates. In many instances these gates are in a heavy traffic area and can be easily damaged by automobile impact Accordingly there is a definite need for an improved gate assembly for trash enclosures and other similar enclosures with gates, which is not subject to the above referenced difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] This invention provides such an improved gate assembly of the class described. The gate assembly includes a gate which is attached to a gate post and the gate swings on the post between an open and closed position. There is a sector plate that is attached to the gate post which has two holes and there is a corresponding sector rod which is attached to the gate. When the gate is in the closed position the sector rod engages the hole in the sector plate and the gate is held secure. When the gate is moved to the open position the sector rod engages the opposing hole in the sector plate and the gate is held secure. By manually raising the gate handle the sector rod is disengaged from the sector plate allowing the gate to move between the open and closed position. Once the gate handle is released the sector rod is free to engage either of the open or closed holes.

[0008] This invention also provides an improved gate assembly for controlling the momentum of the gate swing. By placing a thrust washer in between the gate plate and the post plate and tightening or loosening the hinge bolt an adjustable drag is created. This allows for controlled movement of the gate in windy environments.

[0009] This invention also provides an improved gate assembly for replacement of damaged components. Due to the heavy traffic around these types of enclosures, damage occurs frequently. The most vulnerable part is the panels that cover the gates. By making this a bolt-on panel it can be easily removed and replaced when damaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a rear view of a presently preferred gate assembly according to the invention;

[0011] FIG. A is a top view of the sector plate showing the holes for open and closed positions and the thrust washer;

[0012] FIG. B is a top view of the gate plate showing the hinge bolt and the sector rod alignment hole;

[0013] FIG. C is a top view of the gate and post showing the gate in a closed position with solid lines and showing the gate in an open position with dotted lines;

[0014] FIG. D is a side view of a typical bolt assembly to hold panel in place;

[0015] FIG. E is a side view of the linkage between horizontal rod and the sector rod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Turning now to these drawings, the illustrated gate post 10 includes a top plate 12 and a sector plate 14. The top plate 12 has a hinge bolt hole 16 and the sector plate has a hinge bolt hole 18. The illustrated gate 20 has a top plate 22 and a bottom plate 24. The top plate 22 has a hinge bolt hole 26 and the bottom plate 24 has a hinge bolt hole 28. By placing a top hinge bolt 30 through the top post plate hole 16 and the top gate plate hole 26 it creates the top hinge. By placing a bottom hinge bolt 32 through the bottom gate plate hole 28 and the sector plate hole 18 it creates the bottom hinge. This allows gate 20 to swing about gate post 10 from an open to closed position FIG. C. By placing a thrust washer 34 on bottom hinge bolt 32 in between sector plate 14 and the bottom gate plate 24. Then an adjustable drag is created by tightening or loosening bottom hinge bolt 32. The sector plate 14 has multiple holes 36-38 in a radius about the hinge hole 18. These holes 36-38 are tapered to allow engagement even at high gate speeds. These holes are placed in an open 38 position and a closed 36 position. The bottom gate plate 24 also has a hole 40 placed at the same radius as the holes 36-38 on the sector plate 14, which contains the sector rod 42.

[0017] The linkage assembly is composed of a handle 44 attached to a horizontal rod 46. Two offset plates 48 hold the horizontal rod 46 in place and allow only rotational movement. On the end of the horizontal rod 46 is a bracket 50 which attaches to the linkage bar 52. The linkage bar 52 is attached to the sector rod 42. The sector rod 42 is held in place by an offset bracket 54 and the hole 40 in the bottom gate plate 24 which only allows vertical movement of the sector rod 42. By moving the handle 44 the sector rod 42 is raised and lowered. When the sector rod 42 is in its lowest position the end of the rod will engage the holes 36-38 in the sector plate 14. By lifting the handle 44 the horizontal rod 46 is rotated which through linkage bar 52 raises sector rod 42. Once the sector rod 42 is raised the gate 20 is free to move from an open to closed position. When the handle 44 is released the sector rod will engage one of the holes 36-38 which will hold the gate in a fixed position. The end of the sector rod 42 is tapered to allow engagement of holes 36-38 at high gate speeds.

[0018] Turning to the illustrated view D there is a framework tee 54 and on back is a keeper angle 56. This framework sits inside the gate frame 58 and is held in place by a finger bolt 60. The finger bolt 60 is secured by means of a bracket 62, which is rigidly attached to gate frame 58 and hooks over the keeper angle 56. By tightening the finger bolt 60 the panel 64 is held rigidly in place and by loosening the bolts the panel 64 can be removed in case of damage. 

The inventor claims:
 1. A gate assembly comprising a gate post which has a rigidly attached plate at the top with a hole for the top hinge bolt. At the bottom of the post there is a rigidly attached sector plate with multiple holes. One of which is for the bottom hinge bolt
 2. A gate assembly comprising a sector plate which has multiple holes. These holes are placed in a radius around the hinge bolt hole which allows for an open and closed position to be established. Additional holes can be added to allow for partially open or closed positions. These holes are tapered which will allow engagement of the sector rod even under high speeds.
 3. A gate assembly comprising a gate, which has a rigidly attached plate at the top with a hole for the top hinge bolt. At the bottom of the gate there is a rigidly attached plate with multiple holes. One of which is for the bottom hinge bolt.
 4. A gate assembly comprising a bottom gate plate, which has multiple holes. A hole is placed at the same radius as the holes in the sector plate. This hole is a retaining hole for the sector rod. Once the sector rod engages a hole in the sector plate the bottom gate plate keeps the gate from further movement.
 5. A gate assembly comprising a linkage, which has a rod running from the inboard to the outboard side of the gate, parallel to the ground. Two rigidly attached offset plates hold the bar in this position only allowing rotational movement. On the outboard side the rod is attached to a handle. On the inboard side the rod is attached to a linkage which transfers horizontal radial movement to vertical movement of the sector rod. The sector rod is attached to the linkage on one end and is held in place by two rigidly attached offset plates which hole the bar in this position and allow only vertical movement.
 6. A gate assembly comprising a latch which is a sector rod that is moved vertically by actuating the handle. Once the handle is moved, the rod is lifted out of the hole in the sector plate thereby freeing the gate for movement. When the handle is released the rod will engage either of the holes in the sector plate thereby latching the gate. The rod has a taper on the engaging end. This guarantees engagement of holes even under high speeds. This also guarantees the tightest fit between hole and rod, which allows for the least gate movement in the latched position.
 7. A gate assembly comprising an adjustable drag, which is a thrust washer that is placed in between the rigidly attached sector plate on the post and the rigidly attached bottom gate plate. By tightening or loosening the hinge bolt the momentum of the gate swing can be adjusted.
 8. A gate assembly comprising a removable panel, which has a tee frame with an angle keeper that sits inside the gate frame. There are multiple brackets with holes attached around the gate frame. In each of these brackets a finger bolt is used to hook over the angle in the panel to hold the panel in place. 